We don’t know. But he probably won’t be at the town hall meeting for the 16th Congressional District that he represents. You, on the other hand — you can be there! Our US Representative has been taking a lot of heat for his unwillingness to meet with his constituents. Let’s turn the heat up a few more notches by attending the town hall meeting that will happen with or without him! Carpool, anyone?
There's plenty of bad news. Let's laugh a little.
It’s about time something good came from AI-generated fakes. This week some smart and funny hackers rigged several crosswalks with the fake voices of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. When pedestrians press the “walk” button, they were treated to irreverent - and hilarious - messages. You can read about it at Futurism. Better yet, we found a couple of clips for you to enjoy right here.
Sen. Chris Murphy wants you to stand up! See you tomorrow at Rotary Park.
In case you need a little extra inspiration before we rally tomorrow, Senator Chris Murphy has a few words for you. Murphy has established himself as a strong voice for the opposition. Let’s give him a look on Instagram:
“Show up to their town halls. Show up to their offices, speak up, organize. We are not powerless.”
LET’S GO!!
Stand Up for Democracy! There are no kings here.
On April 19, 1775 the American Revolution began in response to a series of Acts supported by King George III and executed by his Prime Minister, George Grenville. Taken together they were called “The Intolerable Acts.”
Right now, nearly 250 years later, King Donald and his Lord Chancellor Musk — or is it the other way around? — are imposing policies that threaten our country and our democracy in numerous ways. These rapid-fire decisions are being made unilaterally and without the consent of Congress or the consent of the governed.
So how intolerable are these acts? Let’s take a quick and incomplete look:
• Bypassing Congress to change election laws;
• Deporting immigrants without due process;
• Purging federal health agencies;
• Slashing programs at the Veterans’ Administration;
• Randomly firing thousands of federal employees;
• Moving to privatize the US Postal Service; and
• Censoring colleges and universities by holding their finances hostage.
If you find these acts intolerable, raise your voice in protest and Stand Up for Democracy next Saturday, April 5 at Rotary Park in Princeton, 11 am - 1 pm. We hope to see you there!
As a final note, are you wondering why King Donald is so mad at Columbia University? Here’s a thought. And one more small irony for you: The word “doge” is a synonym for “chief executive.” No kidding. You can look it up.
Sit Down and Be Quiet: the Assault on Women in 2025
Remember the “good” old days? When women couldn’t get their own credit cards. When women weren’t allowed to enter military academies — or Yale or Harvard. Before the legal concept of sexual harassment existed.
This wasn’t as long ago as you might suppose. The federal law requiring credit card companies to issue women their own credit was passed in 1974. Women began entering US military academies in 1976. Yale admitted its first female students in 1969; Harvard didn’t do so until 1977. And finally, it wasn’t until 1986 that the Supreme Court ruled workplace sexual harassment was a violation of the Civil Rights Act.
These are examples of the past that, right now in 2025, the administration is pushing us back into. So happy Women’s History Month! Here’s a brief and incomplete list of the ways the current assault on diversity, equity and inclusion are also an assault on women:
• Endangering women’s health
Eliminating gender differences puts research on woman-only conditions like pregnancy and menopause on hold. Ignoring gender difference in clinical trials puts us at risk of adverse drug side effects. And new abortion restrictions are connected with a dramatic rise in maternal death rates.
• Making it harder for married women to vote
In a crazy Orwellian twist, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (already passed once in the House but stalled in the Senate) would do the opposite of safeguarding the votes of married women. Why? Because if a woman changes her legal name when she marries, her birth certificate no longer matches her name. Under the SAVE Act this would require her to show additional proof of citizenship — something like a passport, which naturally we all carry around on the regular.
• Reinstating Trump 1.0 Title IX rules
The bros have their noses into everything. Title IX is the federal law that prohibits gender-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, in publicly funded schools. During the first Trump administration Title IX rules were relaxed, making it harder for women to get protection from on-campus harassment and assault. In 2022 President Biden briefly introduced new rules that expanded protection for women, LGBTQ+ and pregnant students. Now we’re back to the old rules that make it easier for schools to avoid taking action and offer cover for offenders.
A final note:
If this is all too depressing, take an inspiration break. Celebrate Women’s History Month by seeing real women make real history. Watch the documentary “The Janes” and rejoice in the power of women. We’re not done yet.
In Case You Missed It: Sean Casten Claps Back
In a March 18 interview with Brian Mackey of the 21st Show, IL 6th District Representative Sean Casten discussed a wide range of topics including passage of the CR, the Democrats who voted in favor of it, the Trump/Musk agenda and its implications for the United States and the state of Illinois. The interview runs 25 minutes and it’s well worth a listen. Big props to Rep. Casten for speaking out! We wish more of our legislators would join in.
Women's History Month 2025: Amost Invisible
Across the country Women’s History Month this year has been celebrated in a very muted fashion, to say the least. Why? Partly because of the new administration’s poisonous assault on all things labeled DEI, and partly because there really hasn’t been much to celebrate in 2025.
But gosh darn it, this is March, and this is Women’s History Month. So let’s take a deep breath and remember a few good things about women and our great contributions to the world.
URGENT! Your Calls are Needed
The deadline for the Senate vote on Republicans’ Continuing Resolution to avoid a government shutdown is midnight Friday night. Passage of the CR would give the Trump/Musk broligarchy full rein to continue dismantling our federal government.
It’s time to flood our Senators’ offices with phone calls and emails demanding they stand firm and vote against the continuing resolution. Here’s a nice script you can follow on your call, courtesy of Indivisible:
“My name is [ ] and I live at [address]. As a constituent I’m urging Senator [Durbin or Duckworth] to oppose the extreme Republican continuing resolution that threatens our communities and further empowers the Musk takeover of our government. Instead, the Senator should push for a clean bill that reins in DOGE.”
The Senators’ DC offices are open 9 am - 5 pm, Eastern time. If you can’t get through to their DC offices, there are several alternatives. Here’s all the pertinent contact information:
Dick Durbin
DC office: (202) 224-2152
Chicago office: (312) 353-4952
Springfield office: (217) 492-4062
If all else fails, send him an email.
Tammy Duckworth
DC office: (202) 224-2854
Chicago office: (312) 886-3506
Springfield office: (217) 528-6124
If all else fails, send her an email.
Voting With Dollars: It's the American Way
If someone told you how to voice your discontent by doing nothing, would you be interested? Well, here’s a way — it’s called a boycott, and all you have to do is…nothing.
Explanation: Here in the new USA, money is all that matters. Corporations are rolling over for MAGA politics before they’re even asked by eliminating their diversity, equity and inclusion policies. If you find this cowardice unacceptable, let these companies know by bringing your business elsewhere. As a rule of thumb, shop as locally as you can for starters. And then avoid spending money with companies that have dropped their DEI programs.
Amazon has earned special interest with its union-busting, anti-worker warehouses and Jeff Bezos’ new editorial policies imposed on the Washington Post. So FYI, Amazon also owns ShopBop, Audible, Washington Post, Alexa products, IMDB, Twitch, Ring, Prime Video, Zappos and Whole Foods. Just sayin’.
Is Darin LaHood Hiding From Us?
Town hall meetings are traditionally one way for elected representatives to communicate with their constituents. Given the recent advice to US reps by US House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, these important meetings are suddenly a lot harder to get. Is Darin LaHood following his leader’s advice and hiding from us? You betcha.
Overcoming this cowardly obstacle won’t be easy. But we can make a start by joining other citizens of the Illinois 16th District and demand a town hall meeting with Darin LaHood.
Common Cause Lights it Up
Yesterday the public advocacy group Common Cause unveiled a new billboard in Time Square. The message? Fire Elon Musk. Common Cause reports the Bezos-owned Washington Post refused to run a similar ad in the newspaper. For your enjoyment, here’s Rachel Maddow discussing the billboard — and as an added bonus, you can download a poster of the verboten ad below the video.
Time to Follow Up!
Big, big props and much gratitude to our intrepid friends who protested in Rotary Park! We are proud of you for speaking truth to Rep. LaHood. Now it’s time for us to join by raising our voices too.
The very best way to get the attention of an elected official is with daily phone calls. And guess what? There’s an app for that. 5 Calls can help get your message to Darin LaHood. This handy little app provides everything you need, starting with a list of issues. Choose your issue of concern, type in your zip code, and the app will give you the contact information for your representative — along with a brief script. No fuss, no hassle and you can contact LaHood every single day.
5 Calls is available for iPhone and Android. Download it today and get started!
Let’s March 4th for Democracy!
Our government is being dismantled piece by piece and Representative Darin LaHood needs to hear our voices raised in protest. Let’s remind him that WE ARE HIS CONSTITUENTS and we want him to stand up and defend all the things that truly do make America great!
For example:
Public education
Affordable health care
The well-being of our seniors
Jobs that support our families
Individual rights
The rule of law; and
The United States Constitution, which became the founding document of our brand-new government on March 4, 1789.
TIME TO TAKE ACTION!
Yes! There ARE things you can do to voice your horror at the fascist turn our government is taking. This weekend, let’s focus on the rights of immigrants.
Bundle up and join like-minded friends in DeKalb as we march for immigrants. Get all the info from the DeKalb County Democratic Party.
Can’t attend the march? You can still support our immigrant friends by making sure they’re fully aware of their rights. THESE RIGHTS STILL APPLY despite all the recent government machinations. Download this handy flyer in Spanish or in English and distribute it wherever you think someone might need it. You can also learn more from the ACLU.
Oh BTW, it's still Black History Month (as far as we know)
Yes, friends, in the midst of the anti-diversity agenda being pushed onto our country by our new broligarchs, February remains Black History Month. And the garbage-spewing MAGA crowd is celebrating like it’s 1949. Case in point: performances at the Super Bowl this past Sunday.
For starters, there was Ledici performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black national anthem, as part of the pre-game ceremony. Keep in mind the song has been performed at every Super Bowl since 2021. But this year, MAGA mouthpieces went nuts, calling the song a “racist relic” and claiming that it promotes divisions between Americans. Read more at HuffPost and Newsweek.
Then of course there was Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance. MAGA goons claimed not to know who Lamar is, despite his (count them) 22 Grammys, an Oscar nomination and a Pulitzer Prize. Highlights of their racist rants include calling it a “DEI show,” an example of “fading white culture” and impossible to understand. (We’re looking at YOU, Lauren Boebert!) Read more at Rolling Stone and HuffPost.
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down (last week in Illinois)
It’s no surprise that we just went through another hellacious week at the hands of the new broligarchy. Are our Illinois elected officials doing anything to support us, or at the very least, registering some protest on our behalf? Let’s take a look:
THUMBS DOWN
Senator Dick Durbin
At best, our longtime senator seems to be operating under the misconception that bipartisan cooperation is possible. At worst, Durbin appears to value the “old boys network” of the Senate more than he values taking a stand against the miserably unqualified and MAGA affiliated vultures nominated as various department heads. In a remarkable display of passivity, Durbin joined 22 other Democrats (and inexplicably, Bernie Sanders) and voted to confirm the nomination of Doug Collins as Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. So who, you ask, is this guy? Doug Collins is:
a former legislator who supported and sponsored anti-abortion and anti-same sex marriage initiatves;
a member of Trump’s defense team during the first impeachment effort; and
a strong supporter of efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Honestly, Senator Durbin — what were you thinking? Give the senator’s DC office a call and let him know you expect better. His number is (202) 224-2152.
Read more at THE GLOBAL PROJECT AGAINST HATE & EXTREMISM and MSN.
THUMBS UP
Governor JB Pritzker
Oh my goodness, our Governor is crushing it! Using his words, his actions and especially his sense of humor, Pritzker continues to poke at the Trump administration every way he can.
He spent last week working to combat effects of trade tariffs on Illinois businesses.
He barred all January 6 insurrectionists from holding any state jobs. Read his powerful statement HERE.
And finally, there’s his hilarious video announcement posted on Friday. CHECK IT OUT!
Give Gov. Pritzker a call at 217-782-0244 and tell him to keep up the great work.
"This is a monster that eats your fear"
Fear. Paralysis. Nihilism. It’s understandable if you’re feeling all of these — in fact, creating these feelings in us is a tactic being deliberately used in the assault on our government. So what can we do? Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has put together a (very long but very necessary) discussion of this issue.
Sit back, take a deep breath, lock in and focus:
Rural Voters: you asked for it, you got it.
It’s been a week under Trump 2.0 and we’re already remembering that terrible feeling that characterized life under the first Trump administration – the feeling of being perpetually under siege. We stand to lose even more this time around, given the strengthened support of the Republican party and the rich men salivating at the prospect of gutting our government and its services for their own profits.
The writing is on the wall and it looks like nothing but pain for the foreseeable future. Will our neighbors who voted in this group of profit-hungry pirates realize that they’ve unleashed this beast on themselves? Maybe. Here’s how we can remind them:
When your neighbor loses the Medicaid that’s been keeping their family healthy, speak up.
When a local hospital loses Medicaid and Medicare funds and is forced to close, speak up.
When your neighbor is forced to deliver her baby many miles away from home, speak up.
When opioid addiction rises again because funds for drug treatment programs are slashed, speak up.
When local farms go under without the support of government programs like disaster aid, crop insurance and farm subsidies, speak up.
When the price of household goods skyrockets, speak up.
When rural public schools lose funding and are forced to close and consolidate, speak up.
When your rural neighbors can’t get mail delivered to their home because a privatized postal service can’t profit from serving rural locations, speak up.
Rural voters who support Trump don’t know they’re being targeted. As their lives begin to deteriorate, speak up! Remind them – this is what they voted for. This is what they wanted. And we will all suffer because of the choice they made.
For more detailed information about how rural citizens are under the gun, read DNC Chair Jaime Harrison’s memo. You can find it here.
In Other News...
As we stand together looking over the edge of a four-year precipice, it’s important to remember that good things still happen in life and even in government — especially here in Illinois. Read on for a small pick-me-up.
John Deere lawsuit
The state of Illinois, along with the state of Minnesota and the Federal Trade Commission, has filed a lawsuit against the John Deere company. The suit charges that John Deere’s practices force farmers to make equipment repairs only via Deere, thus costing them far more money and denying them the right to repair their equipment in any other way. Read Illinois AG Kwame Raoul’s statement here and the FTC’s statement here.
Medical debt relief
Illinois Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Lizzy Whitehorn is advocating for continuation of last year’s partnership with the non-profit group Undue Medical Debt. Read about the program’s success so far here and Governor Pritzker’s statement here.
Other states follow our lead
In Democratic-leaning states across the country lawmakers are gearing up to provide stronger worker protections — as our state legislators have been doing for the past few years. Read a nice timeline piece about recent Illinois labor law here (thanks, Duane Morris, whoever you are) and about other states’ efforts here.
For a small chuckle
It looks like the secession movement in Illinois isn’t going anywhere — despite the open invitation from the state of Indiana. Read what Gov. Pritzker had to say here.